Loose-leaf binder



Dec.28,1937. P.'O.UNGER I2,103,307

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed June 26, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR. P401.Q UA/GEQ v ATTORNEY.

D.2s,1937. U GER 2,103,307

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed June 26, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

' P404 0 [/A/GEQ ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 28,. 1937 UNITED STATES LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Paul 0. Unger,Elmhurst, Ill., assignor to Wilson- Jones Company, Chicago, III., a'corporation of Massachusetts Application June 26, 1933, Serial No.677,534

11 Claims.

This invention relates to loose leaf binders and more particularly to atrigger adapted to operate the prong plates to open the sheet retainingrings. It is an object of this invention to provide a i trigger that canbe manufactured inexpensively and assembled with a minimum of time andlabor.

It is a further object of thisinvention to provide a trigger capable ofoperating toggle plates to open rings held in closed position underextremely .0 heavy tension. It is a further object of this in vention toprovide a trigger with a rounded foot portion to prevent disengagementof the foot portion and toggle plates. this invention to provide anabutment for the heel 5 of the trigger to prevent the trigger fromslipping.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a trigger with meansto prevent the trigger from rattling. Other objects of this inventionwillbecome apparentupon reading the followingdescription taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a loose leaf binder embodying theinvention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section 5 showing the triggermechanism when the rings are in closed position; I

Figure 3 is a cross section through the ring metal and back lookingtoward the end cap when the rings are in closed position;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the trigger mechanism inits ring opening position;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the trigger mechanism inits ring opening posit on;

" Figure 6 is a detail perspective of the trigger;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of the binder back with the endcap. and trigger removed; p m Figure 8 is a detail perspective of theend cap and spring; and

Figure 9 is a bottom elevation of the end cap and trigger. H v j In thedrawings, the reference numerals 2 and 3 indicate a pair of coversconnected to a back member 4 by means of hinges 5, 6. The backmember 4includes a back plate 1 and a hinge plate 8. The back plate I is"provided with a covering 9' of leather or suitable fabric to match thecovering material-on the covers 2, 3. The hinge plate 8 is provided witha projection ill for a purpose hereinafter described. Although theprojection I illustrated is formed integral with the hinge plate 8 byembossing a portion thereof adjacent the-end; it is obvious that theprojection might be It is a further object of formed by providing anextension on the end of the, hinge plate and bending it into suitableshape, or a separate member might be secured to the hinge platebywelding or riveting.

A binding mechanism or ring metal ll cured to the back member 4 in anysuitable manner. The'ring metal includes a plurality of rings I2 adaptedto retain aplurality of sheets l3 in the binder. The-ringsl2are'anchored to a pair of toggle plates 14 which-are embraced by aspring back l5. The springback does not extend the full length of thetoggle plates. A cover plate I6 completes thering metal assembly.

An end cap I! encloses the end of the ring metal i i. The bottom wall N3of theend cap is provided with a slot 99 having an enlarged poris setionadjacent the end wall 2!. The end wall is provided with a recess 22communicating with the enlarged portion .20 of the slot IS. The recess22 is of lesswidth than the end of the enlarged portion 20 with whichitcommunicates so that portions of the endwall 2| project .beyond theedges of the enlarged portionlfl, as indicated at 23, Figure 9. v

A trigger 24 is assembled with the end capv l1 before the end cap ispositioned over the end of the ring metalv I I. The trigger isprovidedwith a thumbpiece 25 of any desirable configuration, a substantiallyupright portion 26, a heel 21 adjoining the lowermost extremity of theupstanding portion 26, and afoot portion 28 extending at approximatelyright angles to the upstanding portion 26. The trigger is notched, asindicated at 29, Figures 6 and 9, so as to provide a pair of flanges atthe inner end of the foot portion 28.

When the trigger 24 is. assembled with the end cap IT, as shown inFigure 9, the notches 29 interengage with the projections 23. Theflanges 30 flare outwardly beyond the projections 23 to prevent thetrigger from being separated from the end-cap after the slot l9 and itsenlarged portion 20 are closed by. contact with the back member 4. Whenthe end cap I1 is positioned over the end of the ring metal II, the sidewalls are staked, as indicated at 3i, Figure 1, in registration with apair of notches 32 inthe edges of the cover plate It to secure the endcap rigidly to the ring metal.

As shown in Figure 2, --when the end cap is positioned on the end of thering, metal, the heel 21 of the trigger is fulcrumed on the back member4 against the abutment l0 outside of the end cap I1. The abutment II].also prevents the trigger 24 from slipping out of operative position.The spring back !5 is shorter than in conventional ring metals so thatthe edge of the spring back cannot interfere with the proper functioningof the trigger. The fulcruming of the heel of the trigger outside of theend cap increases the ease of assembling the trigger, cap and ringmetal. A spring 33 secured to the inner end wall of the end cap by therivets 34 engages against the foot portion of the trigger and exertspressure against it to urge the foot of the trigger downwardly. Thisdownward pressure also pulls the upstanding portion 26 of the triggeragainst the end cap and prevents the trigger from rattling. r

The foot portion 28 of the trigger 24 is rounded,

as shown at 35, Figure 2, and terminates in a downwardly extending lip3.6. When the thumb piece 25 is pressed downwardly, the heel 21 slidesslightly along the seat provided by the rounded abutment l0, and thefoot portion 28 moves upwardly against the action of the spring 33 untilthe rounded portion 35 engages the toggle plates I4 and moves them tothe position shown in Figure 4 to open the sheet retaining rings l2.

As shown in Figure 4, the downwardly extending lip 36 is beyond thenormal range of contact between the foot portion 28 and the toggleplates M. This makes it impossible for the foot portion to becomedisengaged from the toggle plates so as to cause the trigger to becomeinoperative;

V The position of the trigger in Figure 4' is the extreme openingposition, before the'spring 33 has forced the trigger back to itsupright position.

A comparison of Figures 2 and 4 will show that the ratio of theeffective length of the foot portion of the trigger, that is from thepoint of contact of the rounded portion 35 with the toggle plates 14 tothe point at which the heel 21 is fulcrumed, to the length of theupstanding portion of the trigger from the fulcrum point of the heel 21to the uppermost edge of the thumb piece 25 is less at the instant thetrigger moves into contact with the toggle plates than at the completionof the ring opening movement. This is true because the rounded heel andfoot portions of the trigger cause the points of contact to move closerto the lip 36 and the upright portion 26 of the trigger during themovement of the trigger in opening the rings. V

The change in ratio between the effective length of the foot portion andthe upstanding portion of the trigger results in a greater applicatiorfiof force at the start of the ring opening-operation even though constantpressure is exerted on the thumb piece 25 throughout the ring openingoperation. As shown in Figure 3, the toggle plates I4 abut at a pointslightly below the horizontal plane when the rings are in closedposition so that more force is required to move the toggle plates to thehorizontal plane than to move the toggle plates from the horizontalplane to the open position shown in Figure 5. Heretofore, triggers foropening rings in loose leaf binders have usually been provided withfixed fulcrums so that it has been impossible to regulate theapplication of pressure so that the greater force is applied at thestart of the ring opening operationwhen there is need for it.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention in detail,it will be understood that the description thereof is illustrativerather than restrictive, as many details may be modified or changedwithout departing from the spirit or scope of my invention. Accordingly,I do not desire to be restricted to the exact construction described,except as limited by the appended claims.

I claim: 7 I I l. Ina loose leaf binder, a ring metal including aplurality of sheet retaining rings anchored to a pair of toggle plates,a back member to which.

said ring metal is secured, and a trigger for operating said toggleplates to open said rings, said trigger being fulcrumed on said backmember between the end of said ring metal and the end of the binder.

2. In a loose leaf binder, a ring metal including aplurality of sheetretaining rings anchored to a pair' of toggle plates, a back member towhich said :ring metal is secured, a projection on said back memberspaced outwardly from the end of said ring metal, and a trigger foroperating said toggle plates to open'saidrings, said trigger beingfulcrumed on said back member in contact with said projection.

r 3. In a loose leaf binder, a ring metal, an end cap closingthe end ofsaid ring metal, a back member to which said ring metal is secured, atrigger fulcrumed on said back member outside said end cap but having afoot portion projecting through said end cap to engage said ring metalland a spring in said end can, Said spring engaging said trigger toprevent rattling. I

4;. In a loose leaf binder, a ring metal, an end cap closing the end ofsaid ring metal, aback member to which said ring metal is secured, atrigger 'fulcrumed on said back member outside said end cap but having afoot portion projecting through said end'capto engage said ring metal,

foot portion of'said trigger.

' 5. In a loose leaf binder, a. ring metal ,an end cap enclosing the endof said ring metal, a back member to which said. ring metal is secured,a trigger having a foot portion projecting through said endcap to engagesaid ring metal, said foot portion terminating in'a heel atone end, anda projection on said back member abutting the heel of said, trigger. ,76. In a loose leafbindena ring metal including a plurality of sheetretaining rings, a pairiof toggle plates, a'spring back, and a coverplate,; an end capsecured to said cover plate to enclose the end of saidring metal, a back member to which said ring metal is secured, said backmember .be-

ing longer than said ring metal, a trigger for oper ating saidtoggleplates to open said rings, said trigger including an upstandingportion adjacent the outer face of said end cap, a foot portionextending at an angle to said upstanding portion, and a heel connectingsaid foot portion and said upstanding portion, said foot portionprojecting through said end cap to engage said toggle plates, and aprojection on said back member abutting the heel of said trigger. V

'7. In a loose leaf binder,.a ring metal including a plurality of sheetretaining rings, a pair of toggle plates, a spring back and. a coverplate, an end cap secured to said cover plate to enclosethe end of saidring metal, a back member to which said ring metal is secured, said backmember extending slightly beyond said end cap, a projection on said backmember beyond saidend cap; and a trigger for operating said toggleplates, said trigger being fulcrumed. on said back member between saidprojection and said end cap.

8. In a loose leaf binder, a back member, an abutment on said backmember, a ring metal secured to said back member, said ringmetal-iricluding a plurality of rings anchored to a pair of toggleplates, and a trigger, said trigger having a foot portion engagingsaid'toggle plates andfla, thumb piece, said foot portion terminatingin' 'a heel at one end, said heel eng said back member adjacent saidabutment and being rounded to permit said foot to move on said abutmentinwardly and outwardly of said ring metal in an arcuate path about theheel center during the ring opening movement to vary the effectivelength of said foot portion during said ring opening movement.

9. In a loose leaf binder, a back member, a curved abutment on said backmember, a ring metal secured to said back member, said ring metalincluding a plurality of rings anchored to a pair of toggle plates, anda trigger, said trigger having a. foot portion engaging said toggleplates, a rounded heel, and a thumb piece, said rounded heel engagingsaid curved abutment and being adapted to move inwardly and outwardly ofsaid back member in an arcuate path about the heel center during thering opening movement of said trigger to cause said foot portion toapply varying force against said toggle plates when constant force isapplied to said thumb piece.

10. In combination with a loose leaf binder back member having a curvedabutment, a ring opening trigger for loose leaf binders including a footportion having a rounded heel, said rounded heel being so mounted, whensaid trigger is assembled with a ring metal, as to engage said curvedabutment for movement inwardly and outwardly of said back member in anarcuate path about the heel center during the ring opening movement ofthe trigger.

11. In a loose leaf binder, a ring metal including a plurality of ringsanchored to a pair of toggle plates, a back member, an abutment on saidback member, and a trigger operable to engage said toggle plates to opensaid rings, said trigger having a rounded heel fulcrumed on said backmember in engagement with said abutment, the fulcrum point of saidtrigger moving toward the thumb end of said trigger during the ringopening movement.

PAUL O. UNGER,

